epic ERP and Microsoft recently hosted a high-adrenaline information sharing event at Pablo Clark Racing in Kyalami, Johannesburg. The Formula 1-themed event drew professionals from mid-market firms to learn more about Microsoft’s Business Central platform, which is delivered across Africa in partnership with epic ERP.
“We’ve been surprised to hear from several sources that there is a lack of awareness around the availability of these incredible operational tools in Africa,” said epic ERP MD, Stuart Scanlon. “Microsoft Dynamics and epic ERP can help businesses navigate the challenges faced by mid-market firms across industries.”
Kevin Pentecost, Microsoft SA Channel Sales Manager for BizApps said traditional small business accounting systems inhibit growth and make it difficult to adapt to disruptions and rapid change.
“Traditional systems are often manual, inefficient and prone to errors,” he explained. “They slow down employees, reducing their operational effectiveness, and prevent them from concentrating on strategic initiatives.”
This situation, he said, results in frustrated staff, lower profit margins, higher employee turnover and increased operational costs.
The Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central ERP solution can address the unique needs of mid-market businesses in most industries, but with specific focus on retail and distribution, manufacturing, financial and professional services, non-profit as well as public sector. Other industries include pharma and life sciences, agriculture, healthcare, transportation and logistics, and telecoms as examples.
Kevin highlighted the benefits of using off-the-shelf solutions like Business Central, stating, “Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a powerful ERP solution that offers advanced forecasting tools, seamless integration with other Microsoft products like Teams and Outlook, and robust data management and reporting features. This makes it far more efficient and cost-effective compared to developing custom solutions.”
Both Stuart and Kevin underscored the inclusion of Microsoft Copilot in Business Central, a cutting-edge AI solution that enhances productivity across the Microsoft product lineup.
“Copilot, powered by Azure OpenAI Service, provides AI-powered assistance that helps business professionals generate ideas, automate tasks and gain insights using natural language. This integration empowers firms to work smarter and make data-driven decisions effortlessly.”
Kevin
Business Central’s integration with the Microsoft ecosystem allows firms to manage operations directly within Outlook, simplifying change management and system adoption. It also supports comprehensive financial management, advanced reporting and compliance with regulatory standards, crucial for accounting and auditing firms.
The platform also has remarkable capabilities when it comes to localisation, supporting multiple currencies, exchange rates and local tax regulations across various African countries.
“This makes it an ideal solution for firms looking to expand their operations globally”
Stuart
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is not just an ERP platform, but a strategic tool for midmarket firms across Africa.
“It enables these companies to streamline their operations, enhance client services, and maintain compliance with industry standards, all while leveraging the power of AI and seamless integration with the Microsoft ecosystem”
Stuart
For a free Business Central demo, or a Copilot readiness assessment, contact us and one of our ERP solution experts will get in touch.
